The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-10

carving meat All these lessons the children
actually carry out with miniature articles be-
fore them. while singing various songs adapted
to the exercise In practice.
Tuesday is the best day for visitors, as the en-
tire work can virtually be seen then A bright
cantata, the other morning. gave the work in a
nutshell. group of girls from nine to twelve
years old. with white caps and long white
aprons. came dancing in, followed by group
locking like veritabe street Arabs. The latter
gaze in amazement while the first circle, with
songs and marching, show how we'll they have
learned TO wait on the door in answer to callers
The second movement illustrates the man
ner of waiting dinner-table. The children
take their seats the chords of piano in an
adjoining room give the signal. In front of each
is a small table made of board about foot
square. which rests small box. The box
contains all the table furniture necessary for
dinner of three courses for four
persons and again, with merry songs the
children show how we'll they have been trained
the art of setting n table, and removing the
dishes at the completion of each course. The
third movement finds them armed with brooms.
hair brushes. whisk brooms, feather-dusters and
busting cloths and to the music of the piano
they teach lesson which many experienced
househeepers have never learned-how to sweep
a room without dust and without noise The
fourth movement is a lesson waiting the
table. each child bearing small tray and deftly
passing it to each imaginary guest. grand
broom drill completes the exercises, and the
children leave the room to doff caps and aprons
and 60 to the midday lunch that awaits them.
And is it not mere play, the diversion of an
hour which, like other plays. has little to do ex-
cept in outward form with the real life outside!
We think not 1t is but too true that no small
amount OF the misery of the world comes from
Ignorance; that too many of the poor are poor
because they lack the virtues that have made
others well-to-do; that their condition can never
be materially bettered unless the children are
taught the princpes of thrift, industry. neat
ness, order and economy until they are
able to perform with system and dispatch
the ordinary duties of domestic life. No
one thing is a panacea for all the ills that ac
company the condition of the poor, but the
kitchen garden holds on important place among
the means employed. The question was asked a
class of twenty-four how many of them some
times prepared dinner at home Half the hands
went up and few more when the question
came how many helped about supper. All hands
went up IN answer to the question, How many
sometimes wash the dishes2" while one child
about eight years old spoke up in an
injured tone. II don't do it sometimes, do it
all the time If only little be done to
teach better ways of even washing dishes, is not.
much accomplished toward tightening the bur
den of the poorl But 1t is more than little
that has been done. It is the universal testi-
mony of the mothers that the training which
the children receive is invaluable, and those who
familiar with homes from which the
children come are unanimous in say
ing that its influence is farreaching;
for not only are Tho children taught these neces-
sary household duties but the kitchen garden is
supplemented by the cooking garden, where tho
girls are taught simple ways of preparing food.
One lesson is given to cooking eggs. another to
potatoes. others to different vegetables, soups,
meats. ETC., the children performing all the
work, and repeating the lessons until reasona-
BILE degree Of skill has been secured. In the
cooking garden, also, the attempt Is
made to remove the work from
the domain of drudgery BY introducing bright
which hear the tasks nArf0rmAd nd
it is safe to that when these girls go into
homes Of their own, cooking will not be the bette
noire that it now is to many inexperienced
housekeepers. The work is still further increased
in usefulness by lessons in sewing where the
same underlying ideas are found of training the
child in correct habits of work and Of making
this work attractive. All the stitches used in
plain sewing are taught. together with flannel
stitches and patching, and darning of ev-
cry description. Entire garments are
made with the greatest neatness and
when a girl has received five hundred credit
marks for work we'll done she is entitled to plain
calico dress Many of the articles, too show
not only neatness, put considerable degree of
taste.
1t must not be supposed We repeat that all
these means, important and successful as they
are. do of themselves revolutionaze thehomes Of
the poor. but that it will do much toward it in
the way of making these homes brighter and
happier must be apparent to all who have
watched the workings and the results of the
Wilson Industrial School for Girls Whatever
may be the different vews as TO the wisdom
of introducing industrial training into our
general school system, it seems as il but one
opinion could exist as to the neceneity of work
of this nature in schools for girls among the
poorer classes Nor are the difficulties in the
way lnsurmountable. But single ordinary
sized room is needed for the Kitchen garden and
the cooking garden, while sewing can be taught
in the general classroom The necessary ex-
pense is trifing, teachers trained in the system
readily be obtained, and the only thing that
stands in the way seems to be tho lack of fami-
liarity with the system on the part 1.-THE general
public and recognition of its value What has
been accomplished in orc city shouldy be an en-
couragement for the undertaking of tho work
elsewhere. Is it too much to hope that before
many years every town and city wilt provide
some means by which girls can be syftematic
ally taught in all the duties pertaining to home
lifel 1t is wish often expreseed-has not the
time come to actl Our stores are filled with
poorly paid and overworked girls Committees
are besieged with applications for posi- lions az
teachers by women who have no aptitude in
that direction, but whose domestic capabilities
might be successfully trained. Sewing machines
and factories wear out the lives Of thou SANDS
every occupation open to women is overcrd wded
and schools of every description except this
stand open to prepare girls for every other line
of work. Let there be q new profession opi,n tt
women-the profession of domestic science7-ant
every town and city have its school where ,cirl.
from every class and condition in life may lparr
in theory and carry out in practice the princi
pies of systematic household work. ~